Maternity Support Worker

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Do you have experience working within a healthcare setting and looking for a new challenge?

We are looking for motivated, interested people to work collaboratively and in partnership as an integral part of the midwifery team. You will assist and support the Midwife in the care of the mother and baby throughout pregnancy, postnatal and neonatal pathways.

This role does require evidence of achieving competencies against a national framework. Where a successful candidate does not have evidence of the necessary skills at the commencement of employment, a pay banding of Band 2 will be applied until the framework is completed. We offer training and support to complete this Maternity Support Worker Skills Framework and would expect this to be completed within 6 months of employment in this role. On completion you will then be transferred to a pay banding of Band 3.

The Maternity Support Worker will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction, but not direct supervision, of the registered professional and work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

The primary role of the Maternity Support Worker (MSW) is to assist, support and work in collaboration with the midwife and the wider multidisciplinary team; in order to provide a safe and holistic approach to women centred care.

Main duties of the job

The Maternity Support Worker will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction, but not direct supervision, of the registered professional and work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

To work collaboratively and in partnership as an integral part of the midwifery team. To assist and support the midwife in the care of the mother and baby throughout pregnancy, postnatal and neonatal pathways.

To carry out delegated tasks as part of the midwifery team both in hospital and community settings.

The Band 3 Maternity Support Worker will deliver high quality, caring and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction, but not direct supervision, of the registered midwife and will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

The post-holder will assist with the assessment, investigation, and care of patients with the support of a qualified medical or midwifery practitioner, undertaking aspects of care within the competencies they have attained through formal and informal education and training.

As a Band 3 Maternity Support Worker (MSW) you make a valuable and important contribution to the delivery of high-quality healthcare, supporting the registered professional in the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate patient care.

About us

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work.

Job responsibilities

The primary role of the Maternity Support Worker (MSW) is to assist, support and work in collaboration with the midwife and the wider multidisciplinary team; in order to provide a safe and holistic approach to women centred care.

The midwife is ultimately responsible for the care of the mother and her new-born(s), and it is under the direction of the midwife/Registered Nurse (RN) that the MSW assists with and provides care following completion of any relevant or appropriate training. The post is rotational and the employee will be provided with appropriate training for the clinical setting in which they are working.

Professional Values

To act in a professional manner and ensure Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all who come into contact with the services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Uphold the Trust values and standards at all times.

Ensure records and documentation are maintained, kept confidential and meets Trust standards in line with the Data Protection Act.

Demonstrates a positive and enthusiastic approach to their work in order to maintain high morale and motivation within the team. Promoting a professional and positive working environment.

To report any accidents or incidents as described by the Trusts policy and procedures ensuring an open and transparent culture.

To take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and of other persons.

To adhere to the Trusts dress code policy, maintaining a smart appearance at all times.

To assist other wards, departments and teams within the Trust as and when required by service needs.

To adhere to the Trusts IT policies regarding e-mail and internet usage.

To ensure children and adults are protected from abuse and avoidable harm and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Clinical Practice

To carry out duties as specified within the Trusts approved core task list for Clinical Support Workers/Healthcare Assistant without direct supervision.

Perform area specific clinical competencies in line with core standards under the direction of a Registered Practitioner understanding the purpose of, and effectively using protocols to support patient assessment, treatment and evaluation within specified limitations.

Following completion of a competency framework, conduct clinical skills below independently under the indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.

Assess women and babies using clinical skills and being aware of and escalating deviations from normal in relation to maternal and neonatal health, including maternal mental health in a variety of settings inpatient or community.

Undertake specific clinical skills/competencies in maternity care i.e. venepuncture, taking blood from babies for newborn screening, serum bilirubin levels, blood glucose levels, weighing babies and calculating weight loss, assessment of jaundice using a bilirubinometer and calculating abnormal results.

Complete all relevant documentation for screening tests in maternity records.

Undertake tube feeding as necessary independently following completion of competence.

Provide support to women in confidently and safely feeding their baby using their chosen method using appropriate knowledge and skills of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.

Recognise urgent or emergency situations within the community or hospital environment and is able to summon appropriate help in those situations along with an ability to support the multi-disciplinary team during maternal and neonatal emergencies and a knowledge of their role at these times.

Arrange, administer and conduct independently, clinics for various purposes ie first pregnancy contact, feeding support, newborn screening and parent education.

Confidently be able to make every contact count and reinforce professional advice regarding healthy lifestyle messages and give advice in line with national and local guidance to mothers and families e.g. smoking cessation to include carbon monoxide screening, healthy weight and advice regarding healthy eating, safe sleeping, infant feeding, baby care and maternal and family health.

Assist Registered Practitioner with births in whatever setting including preparing for a homebirth and following a homebirth.

Assist Registered Practitioner at birth including immediate maternal and neonatal care.

Assist Midwifery Practice Teams with administrative duties and communication with women with regard to appointments and changes to their care.

Use IT systems for data input and collection, patient health records, treatment requests and results.

Ensure that all clinical documentation is accurately collected, updated, stored and filed in accordance with local information governance and record keeping policy and guidance.

Good organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload and adapt to different priorities during a working day.

Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to adapt these to differing or challenging circumstances.

Awareness of the importance of good customer care for women and their families including role initially handling concerns, complaints and compliments.

Adhere to Trust infection control procedures, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.

Work under the guidance for a lone worker in the community.

Communications and Interpersonal Relationships

Welcome patients, relatives and visitors to the clinical area, providing assistance, support and information where required. Being aware of barriers to effective communication and the means to overcome them.

Always introduce yourself in line with the Trusts privacy and dignity promises and the principles of good customer service.

To answer the telephone, when necessary, in a polite, courteous manner and pass on enquiries to the registered professional.

Communicate effectively within the multi-disciplinary team and other departments to ensure that patient care is well planned and coordinated.

Contribute to the reporting, handover and documentation of patient care as delegated by a registered professional maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Report incidents, accidents and complaints as per Trust Policy and to the senior professional on duty, ensuring an open and transparent culture.

Use the Trust information support system and other computer systems as required by the clinical area.

Team Working

Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe keeping of patients property in accordance with Trust policy.

Promote a professional, welcoming and uncluttered environment; keep all storage areas safe, clean and tidy.

To share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment in the clinical area including all equipment cleaning.

Ensure all waste and soiled linen is disposed of in line with Trust policy.

Participate in audit under the direction of the registered professional.

Clean and check of beds, bed spaces and lockers in the patient area following discharge and in preparation for admission (inpatient areas only).

Ensure deliveries are stored correctly and stock maintained to the required level.

Support the housekeeper with general housekeeping duties, reporting as necessary essential cleaning needs (inpatient areas only).

Education, Training and Personal Development

To ensure attendance at mandatory training sessions, i.e. infection control, resuscitation and manual handling training.

To complete the Trusts Clinical Support Worker Induction programme.

To successfully complete the Care Certificate within 12 weeks of commencing employment.

Completion of SWFT or external Maternity Support Worker Programme or a willingness to undertake within 6 months of employment.

To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.

Support induction training and provide support to new and existing Maternity Support Workers.

To undertake training as necessary for the development of the post and the relevance of the department including IT and clinical skills.

To continue personal development in relation to identified objectives.

Maintain up to date knowledge of changes in policies and procedures relevant to the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A - C English and Maths or equivalent
• NVQ/Diploma Level 3 or equivalent higher apprenticeship in healthcare
• Evidence of successful completion of Care certificate, or willingness to work towards
• Evidence of successful completion of SWFT or external Maternity Support Worker Programme or willingness to work towards

Experience

• Experience of using hospital patient record system
• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience of providing high quality care
• Maternity care experience in a hospital/birth centre

Skills

• Evidence of competence in care skills
• Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Able to present information, written and orally in an accurate clear and logical manner
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Ability to write accurate and legibly in-patient records
• Evidence of competence in relevant specialist skills/tasks

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust